Electric furnace



Oct. 1, 1929. J w 1,730,103

ELECTRIC FURNACE Filed April 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 72 I 1NI/ENTOR.

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ATTORNEY,

Oct. 1, 1929. v J. WEINTZ 1,730,103

ELECTRIC FURNACE Filed April 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I flag,

ATTORNEY,

Patented Oct. 1, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB WEINTZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STRONG, CARLISLE AND HAMMOND COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO ELECTRIC FURNACE Application filed April 26, 1926. Serial No. 104,505.

This invention relates more particularly to electric furnaces having removable heating units, and it is among the objects of the invention to provide a self-contained heater 5 unit which can be readily. removed or" replaced while the furnace is under heat. A

further object is the provision of an improved supporting means for the heating-units.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists in the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointedout in the claims, the D annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means embodying the invention,'suchdisclosed means constituting, however, but one of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a furnace embodying my invention, the section being taken on the plane indicated by the line I-I, Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on! a plane indicated by the line III-III, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on a plane indicated by the line IV-IV, Fig. 1, the port closure being removed.

In the drawing, the reference character F designates a furnace housing, which may be of any detailed construction desired, and which has ports P that normally are closed, these being of a size to allow passage of the heating unit. The closure elements for the ports comprise refractory portions 5 and insulation with suitable channels for the conductors, and may be attached to the heater unit and movable therewith or may be separable as desired. The heating element itself may be of any preferred character. For example it may be of resistance type, in rod form or preferably ribbon form 6, having terininals 6, and being arranged in parallel loops, each loop resting in a notch 8 in a heat resistant insulator bar 7. Two or more of these insulator bars are employed in each heating unit, depending on. the size of the unit. For the lower heating unit, the insulator bars rest upon the'floor, and cut awa recesses 9 are provided in the bars to allow insertion of a handling attachment which preferably has fork-like tines 10 and a handle extension 11 by which the heater may be lifted as a unit to be removed or replaced. Extending through the insulator bars of the upper heater are reenforcing bars 12 of heat-resistant metal, adapted to rest on sus ension hooks 13 depending from the roof 0 the furnace. These suspension hooks are preferably carried by beams or mating angle irons 14, being splined in inset boxing 15 to prevent turning, but being screw threaded for engagement of take up nuts 16 which rest upon the boxing 15. If desired, similar reenforcing bars 12 may be employed in the insulator bars of the lower unit also, but ordinarily'this is not necessary. The manner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing. When a lower unit is to be inserted, the port being opened, the unit resting upon the forklike tines 10 of the handling attachment is set into place on the floor of the furnace, and where the port closure is of separable form this is put in place with the conductors extending through the channels, the terminals being turned into line or detached. The handling attachment 11 will be withdrawn from the furnace except during use as in connection with the moving of the heater unit, although in some cases I contemplate leaving the handling element in place with the heater, particularly for the lower unit. The upper heater is similarly handled, but in this case unless the port is large enough to allow manipulation onto the suspension hooks 13, the hooks are first raised out of the way by means of the nuts 16 so as to allow insertion of the heater unit, and after this has been brought almost to position, the take up nuts 16 are adjusted to run the suspension hooks down and VOlVGd, viz, the lower heater element is directly lifted or handled by the handling attachment, while in the case of the upper heater unit, the nuts 16 on the suspension hooks are manipulated so as to disengage and remove the suspension hooks-to give such clearance that the insulator bars supporting the heater unit may be withdrawn by the handlin element without interference from the It will thus be seen that the present construction allows of a ready and safe handling of heater units which ordinarily would be easily deformed on account of their condition at furnace temperatures, and moreover by reason of the distributed support for the elements when placed, sagging and damage is prevented.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed, change being made as regards the features of construction, provided the means set forth in the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctlv claim as my invention 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a furnace housing, a heating element, insulator'bars supporting said heating element, and suspension hooks depending from the roof of the furnace for carrying the insulator bars and heating element.

1 2. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a furnace housing, a. resistance element, insulator bars supporting said resistance element, and suspension hooks depending from the roof of the furnace for carrying the insulator bars and resistance element. said suspension hooks being mounted to allow longitudinal adjustment withou turning. V

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a resistance element, insulator bars supporting said resistance element, suspension hooks for carrying the insulator bars" and resistance element, beams at the upper portion of the furnace housing, inset boxing connected with said beams and splinedly engaging said suspension hooks, and take up nuts on said suspension hooks for longitudinal adjustment.

4;. In a device of the character described, the combination of a furnace housing, a resistance ribbon element arranged in parallel ioops, insulator bars having notches for re-. 

